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| Washington DC holds independence referendum over taxation | Washington DC holds independence referendum over taxation |
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| Some 237 years after the United States declared independence under the banner of "no taxation without representation", the citizens of Washington DC are today seeking a similar route to home rule with an audacious attempt to break free of the fiscal grip of the US federal government. | Some 237 years after the United States declared independence under the banner of "no taxation without representation", the citizens of Washington DC are today seeking a similar route to home rule with an audacious attempt to break free of the fiscal grip of the US federal government. |
| For years, campaigners have sought to overturn the constitutional oddity whereby the District of Columbia has to seek permission from Congress before passing a budget or spending locally raised taxes – even though it has no representation in the Senate and only a non-voting presence in the House of Representatives. This requirement has become particularly onerous as wider budget disagreements between Republicans and Democrats have brought Congress to a standstill on any fiscal matter. | |
| Popular sympathy has grown – President Barack Obama recently agreed to place DC's "taxation without representation" campaigning licence plate on his presidential limo – but attempts to pass legislation have hit the same partisan roadblocks. In exchange for budgetary autonomy, Republicans insisted on attaching riders that would have imposed abortion controls and gun liberalisation on the Democratic-leaning city. | |
| Now DC campaigners are attempting to circumvent Congress with a controversial attempt to declare unilateral independence through a district-wide referendum on Tuesday. If passed by a 51% majority, the referendum would mandate city authorities to begin spending locally raised tax revenue without first going to Congress – by amending DC's Home Rule act. | |
| The legal status of such an amendment is highly debatable and has been compared by some in Congress to a revolutionary act. The Californian Republican Darrell Issa, chairman of a key House committee in charge of the DC budget process, recently referred to the referendum as a "partial secession from the union". | The legal status of such an amendment is highly debatable and has been compared by some in Congress to a revolutionary act. The Californian Republican Darrell Issa, chairman of a key House committee in charge of the DC budget process, recently referred to the referendum as a "partial secession from the union". |
| Issa, who in the past has described his role as somewhat akin to being DC's "governor", urged residents of the capital to be patient with the reform process in Congress. Even DC's mayor, Vincent Gray, was initially opposed the referendum idea, having been advised by his attorney general, Irvin Nathan, that it might provoke "punitive measures" from Congress. Gray has since given the referendum his cautious support, though Eleanor Holmes Norton, the district's non-voting delegate to Congress, remains concerned. | Issa, who in the past has described his role as somewhat akin to being DC's "governor", urged residents of the capital to be patient with the reform process in Congress. Even DC's mayor, Vincent Gray, was initially opposed the referendum idea, having been advised by his attorney general, Irvin Nathan, that it might provoke "punitive measures" from Congress. Gray has since given the referendum his cautious support, though Eleanor Holmes Norton, the district's non-voting delegate to Congress, remains concerned. |
| Campaigners say they are ready for a fight in the Supreme Court if necessary, but find it hard to conceive how Congress could manage to agree to overturn the referendum. A vote of disapproval would require agreement from the Senate, House and White House. | Campaigners say they are ready for a fight in the Supreme Court if necessary, but find it hard to conceive how Congress could manage to agree to overturn the referendum. A vote of disapproval would require agreement from the Senate, House and White House. |
| "This is a small measure of self-determination," James Jones, of the DC Vote campaign, told the Guardian. "This is in no way a revolutionary concept; we just want control of our local tax dollars. Congress would still have to review our budget but it would go some way toward addressing this island of injustice. | "This is a small measure of self-determination," James Jones, of the DC Vote campaign, told the Guardian. "This is in no way a revolutionary concept; we just want control of our local tax dollars. Congress would still have to review our budget but it would go some way toward addressing this island of injustice. |
| "We are prepared for a legal challenge. Congress does not have the highest standing, and the idea that they would overturn the popular vote on this is hard to imagine." | |
| Washington's unique status in US law stems from the Antideficiency Act of 1884, which forbids federal entities – such as the federal city of DC – from spending funds before they are appropriated, in this case by Congress. | Washington's unique status in US law stems from the Antideficiency Act of 1884, which forbids federal entities – such as the federal city of DC – from spending funds before they are appropriated, in this case by Congress. |
| The capital was founded along the Potomac River in 1790 as neutral territory separate from the states, and placed under the exclusive control of the federal government. | The capital was founded along the Potomac River in 1790 as neutral territory separate from the states, and placed under the exclusive control of the federal government. |
| Today, national sympathy may be limited by the fact that federal spending means Washington has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. The referendum, although expected to pass, may also have limited authority due to a predicted low turnout. | Today, national sympathy may be limited by the fact that federal spending means Washington has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. The referendum, although expected to pass, may also have limited authority due to a predicted low turnout. |
| "People are overly sensitive if they think this is anything approaching secession," said Jones. "Congress would continue to have ultimate authority over the district. It is not revolution; we just want control of our local tax dollars." | |
| It is a sentiment that would perhaps have sounded familiar in the 13 colonies of the 1760s. | It is a sentiment that would perhaps have sounded familiar in the 13 colonies of the 1760s. |
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